National Library in Paris. French National Library Capitals of Europe Paris National Library of France

National Library France (La Bibliotheque Nationale de France) is one of the oldest and largest libraries in France, the center of national bibliography.

It is known that the collections of manuscripts of the royal family, united by Charles V (1364-1380) into a library, served as the beginning of the library. Under him, it became available to scientists and researchers, received the status of inalienable property. After the death (or change) of the king, the library was to be inherited in integrity. During the Hundred Years' War the library fell apart and was re-founded in 1480 as the Royal Library. It was completely recreated in the 16th century by Louis XII and Francis I, who enriched it with numerous receipts during the wars of conquest with neighboring countries, especially with Italy. Francis I, by decree of December 28, 1537 (the "Decree of Montpellier"), introduced a legal deposit (it was canceled at the end of the 18th century, and restored in 1810) so that "books and their contents would not disappear from human memory." Thus, the introduction of legal deposit of printed materials creates a fundamental stage in the development of the library. The royal library was repeatedly moved (for example, to the city of Ambroise, Blois), and in 1570 returned to Paris.

In the 16th century, the Royal Library of France ranked first among the largest libraries in Europe. The library fund has increased many times over, librarians could not memorize so many names. And in 1670, N. Clement, the head of the library at that time, developed a special classification printed publications, allowing you to quickly search for them .

Abbé Bignon, who was appointed librarian in 1719, made a special contribution to the development of the Royal Library. He proposed to divide the library fund into departments, pursued a policy of acquiring the most important works of European writers and scientists, and sought to make it easier for ordinary readers (initially, the Library was open only to scientists) to access funds Royal Library.

In 1795 the Library was declared national by the Convention. The National Library underwent huge changes during the Great French Revolution. Significant revenues were received during the years of the revolution in connection with the confiscation of monastic and private libraries, libraries of immigrants and princes during the period of the Paris Commune. A total of two hundred and fifty thousand printed books, fourteen thousand manuscripts, and eighty-five thousand engravings are believed to join the Library during this period.

The 19th century in the history of the Library was marked by a large-scale expansion of the library buildings in order to accommodate the ever-expanding collection of the Library.

In the 20th century, the Library did not stop growing: the construction of three annexes to Versailles (1934, 1954 and 1971); opening of the hall of catalogs and bibliographies (1935-1937); opening of the workroom periodicals(1936); installation of the Department of Engravings (1946); expansion of the Central Department of Printed Editions (1958); opening of a special hall for Eastern Manuscripts (1958); construction of a building for the departments of Music and Music Library (1964); construction of a building on Rue de Richelieu for administrative service (1973).

The increase in the volume of printed matter in the 20th century led to an expansion of reader requests, and the National Library, despite the intensification of informatization and modernization, could hardly cope with new tasks. In comparison, 390 works were placed in the Library in 1780, 12,414 works in 1880 and 45,000 in 1993. Periodicals are also plentiful: 1,700,000 issues arrived each year under legal deposit. In connection with the multiple increase in the library fund, the issue of its placement became acute. July 14, 1988 the French government approved the construction project new library.

On March 30, 1995, French President Francois Mitterrand opened a new library complex located on the left bank of the Seine along Rue Tolbiac. January 3, 1994 - the date of the official unification of the new complex with the rest of the buildings that are part of the structure of the National Library.

The Bibliothèque nationale de France is part of the Association of National Libraries of France. From 1945 to 1975 subordinated to the Department of Libraries and Public Reading of the Ministry national education, since 1981 - to the Ministry of Culture. Its activities are regulated by a 1983 government decree.

Thus, the Bibliothèque nationale de France originated in 1480 as the Royal Library. It served as a prototype of this type of library in many countries. Distinctive feature it consisted in the fact that for the first time in the world practice of librarianship main library The country began to receive a legal copy of all printed publications published on the territory of the state. Most well-known figures Those who made a great contribution to the development of the Library were Charles V, Louis XII and Francis I, N. Clement, Bignon, F. Mitterrand and many others. In 1795, by order of the Convention, the Library was declared National. Over the course of several centuries, the Library has undergone significant changes and is currently one of the largest and most modernized libraries in Europe.




The National Library in Paris is considered the richest collection of French-language literature and the largest library not only in the country, but also in the world. Her literary fund is located in several buildings in Paris and the provinces.

The history of the National Library dates back to the 14th century. In those days, Charles V opened the Royal Library, which managed to collect 1200 volumes. In 1368, the collected works were placed in the Falcon Tower of the Louvre. Five years later, all the books were rewritten and the first catalog was compiled. Over time, many books were lost and only a fifth of that fund has survived to this day. The next king, Louis XII, continued to collect books. He transferred the remaining volumes to the Château de Bloir and combined them with the collections of the library of the Dukes of Orleans.

Under Francis I, the positions of chief librarian, bookbinders and assistants were founded. In 1554, an impressive collection was assembled and at the same time it became public, open to scientists. The following leaders of France constantly replenished the book fund and changed the location of the library. Over the years, manuscripts of paramount importance, medals, miniatures, drawings, historical documents, books from the East and other countries have supplemented it. During french revolution the book fund was replenished with the literature of various emigrants, 9000 manuscripts of the monastery of Saint-Germain-des-Pres and 1500 volumes of the Sorbonne.

After its completion, the library received modern name. The modern library building was inaugurated in 1996 in the 13th arrondissement and named after its initiator - Francois Mitterrand. Today, the main storage is located here. By appearance- these are two pairs of four high-rise buildings standing side by side, framing a huge park. Two of them are tightly adjacent to each other, forming an open book. Each of the buildings has its own name: time; law; number; letters and letters.

Construction of new buildings was carried out for 8 years. Literature of several eras is stored here, thematic exhibitions and conferences are held. Today, the library fund of the library has over 20 million books, manuscripts, manuscripts, medals, maps, antiques and historical documents. Every year it is replenished with hundreds of thousands of books. The structure of the National Library of France is as follows: the Royal Library; Department theatrical art; library-museum of the Opera; library of the Arsenal; house-museum French director J. Vilar in Avignon; five centers for the restoration of books.


Introduction

Conclusion

Bibliography

Introduction


This essay is dedicated to the National Library of France (NBF). To begin with, it is necessary to determine the categorical status of the concept of "national library".

"National" (from lat. n?ti? - people, nation) dictionaries interpret as relating to the socio-political life of nations, associated with their interests; belonging to, characteristic of a given nation, expressing its character; state, relating to this state; relating to the nation as a large socio-cultural community of the industrial era; characteristic of a given nation, peculiar to it.

the term "national library" used in world practice is commonly understood as the largest libraries of states, which are established by the government, serve the people as a whole, performing the functions of preserving, developing and transmitting the written cultural monuments of a given country to future generations;

in addition to the main state libraries, the system of national libraries includes branch libraries of national importance, as well as libraries that are central library institutions of territories that have a special status.

regardless of type, all national libraries have common features, namely: the appropriate scale; the nature of the formation (established by the state represented by the governments of the region, region, republic); the right to legal deposit; the obligation to consolidate, preserve and pass on from generation to generation written cultural monuments of the country (region). The functions of national libraries are also the same: universal bibliographic control in the relevant field; formation of full funds of domestic documents; organization of international exchange. .

The French National Library includes all of the above features.

The relevance of studying the French National Library lies in the fact that the library itself is the largest historical monument nation, is in great demand among readers from other countries. It carries a large historical layer and, what is important, is a wonderful architectural creation of its time.


Chapter 1. The history of the birth of the French National Library


French National Library ( Bibliotheque nationale de France) - at different times had different names: the library of the king, royal, imperial and national; for a long time it was the personal library of the French kings, the Parisian national library.

Already King Pepin the Short had a collection of manuscripts. Charlemagne founded a library in Aachen, quite significant for that time, but after his death the library was sold. King Louis IX again gathered a satisfied big library which he bequeathed to four spiritual communities. .

The real founder of the Royal Library of Paris was Charles V, who started a library not only for himself, but also to enable scientists to work; he not only bought and forced to rewrite manuscripts, but also ordered some books to be translated "for the benefit of the kingdom and the whole of Christendom." In 1367-1368, the library, by order of the king, was transferred to the Falcon Tower (tour de la Fauconnerie) in the Louvre. In 1373, its catalog was compiled, supplemented in 1380. This library suffered greatly from the fact that royal relatives took books from it and did not return them back. Of the 1200 lists that were in the library, only 1/20 of them have come down to us. .

Louis XII transferred the Louvre library to Blois and attached it to the library collected there by his grandfather and father, the Dukes of Orleans; he also acquired a rich collection of books of the dukes of Milan, part of the books from the library of Petrarch and a collection of books by Louis de Bruges, seigneur de la Gruthuyse (de la Gruthuyse).

The generally accepted year of birth of the NBF is 1480. King Francis I added to the royal library his personal collection, collected by his father and grandfather; he continued with great diligence to collect books, in France and abroad, to enlarge the library. Under him, the royal library was one of the richest in all of Europe; little by little it is no longer regarded as the personal property of the king, and it becomes a public institution open to scientists. .

Under Francis I, the positions of the chief librarian of the royal library, his assistants and bookbinders were established.

Francis I, by decree of December 28, 1537 (the "Decree of Montpellier"), introduced an obligatory deposit (it was canceled at the end of the 18th century, and restored in 1810) so that "books and their contents would not disappear from human memory." Thus, the introduction of legal deposit of printed materials creates a fundamental stage in the development of the library. .

At the end of the reign of Charles IX, the library from Fontainebleau was moved to Paris. Under Louis XIII, a library was established in the Louvre, which belonged personally to the king and was called the Cabinet du roi. In the reign of Louis XIV, the royal library acquired by purchase and donation a very large number of books and manuscripts of paramount importance. .

In the 16th century, the Royal Library of France ranked first among the largest libraries in Europe. The library fund has increased many times over, librarians could not memorize so many names. And in 1670, N. Clement, the head of the library at that time, developed a special classification of printed publications, allowing them to be quickly searched.

Abbé Bignon, who was appointed librarian in 1719, made a special contribution to the development of the Royal Library. He proposed to divide the library fund into departments, pursued a policy of acquiring the most important works of European writers and scientists, and sought to make it easier for ordinary readers (initially, the Library was open only to scientists) to access funds Royal Library.

In 1795 the Library was declared national by the Convention. The National Library underwent huge changes during the Great French Revolution. Significant revenues were received during the years of the revolution in connection with the confiscation of monastic and private libraries, libraries of immigrants and princes during the period of the Paris Commune. A total of two hundred and fifty thousand printed books, fourteen thousand manuscripts, and eighty-five thousand engravings are believed to join the Library during this period.

The largest book acquisition of the NBF was the library of French cardinals: Richelieu and Mazarin. However, the value of this acquisition is not only in the documents, but also in the fact that Gabriel Naudet was in charge of this library. It is with him that an analytical description is introduced.

On behalf of Mazarin, Naudet traveled throughout Europe and acquired entire libraries for the cardinal from representatives of the European nobility, which led to the formation in France of a retrospective European fund.

Subsequently, the library began to be located in Paris on the rue Richelieu (immediately behind the Palais Royal) in an ensemble of buildings of the 17th century, built according to the project of Mansart for Cardinal Mazarin and expanded after 1854.

Development library system in France is largely based on the achievement of enlightenment. However, the literacy of the population began to decline sharply in the second half of the 20th century and this was due to the migration of people from the countries of the 3rd world. Therefore, all public libraries were forced to include in their activities educational programs.

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, the library did not stop growing and gaining funds. In connection with the expansion of the fund, it became necessary to create new buildings, new departments and, accordingly, new buildings.

In 1988, President François Mitterrand supported a program to reform the library, in accordance with which the main funds were moved to modern high-rise buildings in the 13th arrondissement of Paris (architect Dominique Perrault). At that time, the number of printed books in the library's collection exceeded 9 million.

On March 1995, French President François Mitterrand inaugurated the new library complex, located on the left bank of the Seine on a 7.5-hectare site along Rue Tolbiac.


Chapter 2. Main Buildings and Departments of the NBF


The National Library of France at the present stage is located in eight library buildings and complexes in Paris and its suburbs, among them: the world famous architectural ensemble along Richelieu Street, where the Royal Library, the Arsenal Library, the Jean Vilar House in Avignon, the Opera Library-Museum were located. The structure of the NBF also includes five conservation and restoration centers, three of which are located in the suburbs of Paris. In 1994, a new library complex was built on the left bank of the Seine, named after F. Mitterrand.

1.On March 30, 1995, French President François Mitterrand inaugurated a new library complex located on the left bank of the Seine on a 7.5-hectare site along Rue Tolbiac. Initially, this complex was conceived as an independent large library of the third millennium. The initiator of the construction of the "Very large library" (" Tres grande bibliotheque ) was François Mitterrand. After extensive discussion of the concept of the new library, it was decided to build not just a large library of the 21st century, but the national library of France of the future. For the implementation decisions taken the association "For the Library of France" was created, in 1989 a international competition for the best project "Libraries of the Future". The competition was attended by 244 applicants, including 139 foreign ones. The international jury unanimously recognized the best project young French architect Dominique Perrault.

2.The Richelieu Library contains the Department of Maps and Plans, the Department of Prints and Photographs, the Department of Manuscripts, the Department of Oriental Manuscripts, the Department of Coins, Medals and Works ancient art. Although today most of the collection of the French National Library has been transferred to the Francois Mitterrand Library, the most valuable remains in the old part, located on Richelieu Street, just behind the Palais Royal.

3.The Jean Vilar House Museum was opened in 1979. It is a regional center for documentation and cultural and educational work, providing readers with materials about the art of the performance. The library includes approximately 25,000 works, 1,000 video titles, iconographic documents, costume designs.

4.The Arsenal Library was attached to the National Library in 1934. It was first mentioned in 1754. In 1797 it was opened as a public library. It is based on a unique library famous writer, bibliophile and collector of the Marquis de Polmi, who keeps the collection of the Count d "Artois (King Charles X), the archives of the Bastille, as well as collections confiscated from private individuals, churches and emigrants during the revolution of 1789-1794. The Library includes 14,000 manuscripts, 1 million prints, 100,000 prints.

5.The Library-Museum of the Opera was established on June 28, 1669 at the Royal Academy of Music and has occupied various premises throughout its development. The Library-Museum of the Opera became available to the public in 1878. The Reading Room of the Department has 180 seats and contains 600,000 literary, musical, archival and iconographic documents, 1680 titles of periodicals and several tens of thousands of drawings and typographic posters.

Currently, the NBF is doing a lot to improve the quality of customer service. An automated integrated information system, developed specifically for this library, should unite all buildings, ensuring a clear coordination of their activities.

Chapter 3 Current state NBF


At present, the National Library of France is the richest collection of Francophone<#"justify">french national library literature

The NBF applies the ISBD standards, the MARC INTERMARC format, and the exchange of bibliographic records is carried out in the UNIMARC format.

The NBF participates in the work of UNESCO, IFLA and others. international organizations.

Many people visit various exhibitions. In the new library complex, the total area exhibition halls is 1400 m2. For conferences, seminars, meetings and other events, the library has a system of halls, of which one is designed for 350 seats, the other - for 200 seats and six - for 50 seats each. As paid services, these halls can be provided to organizations and institutions for various events. The library also has bookstores, kiosks, cafes and restaurants.

The average age of visitors is 39, while average age readers - 24 years. The composition of visitors is as follows: 21% - employees, 17% - students, 16% - pensioners, 20% - teachers and representatives of free professions, 29% - non-Parisians and foreigners. .

The collections of the NBF are unparalleled in the world: these are fourteen million books and publications; these are also manuscripts, engravings, photographs, maps and plans, scores, coins, medals, audio and video recordings, multimedia, scenery, costumes. In the spirit of encyclopedism, all areas of intellectual activity, art and science are represented. About 150,000 documents are received each year, either as legal deposit or through purchases or donations.

With the invention of book scanning technology<#"center">Conclusion


Now the National Library of France is the center of modern intellectual life and culture. It stores the knowledge accumulated by humanity, making it available to everyone. Place of access to information and scientific work. Center for cultural exchange. The memory of what happened. .

In the new building of the library - "Francois Mitterrand Libraries" are stored: funds of printed materials, as well as audio and video materials. IN historic building libraries in the center of Paris in the "Biblioteca de Richelieu" is currently under reconstruction, houses the departments of manuscripts, prints, photographs, maps and plans, coins and medals. Seven centuries of history, today: 35,000,000 items. Every day the library receives more than a thousand copies of periodicals and hundreds of book titles. .

The Belarusian Popular Front participates in the international book exchange with the largest libraries in the world. And he collects funds related to all areas of knowledge. Catalog indexing and classification of each item of storage received in the collections ensures its easy search in the catalog. Computerized catalogs are available throughout the world via the Internet. Store and digitize.

Today, the NBF is accelerating the digitization of its collections, preserving the originals for future generations. Set a course for development the latest technologies. Book miniatures, posters, photographs are restored in special workshops and photo studios. bnf website. fr and the electronic library "Gallika" - provide access to thousands of texts and images. Large-scale work on digitization with subsequent storage on all types of media. Printed matter, including press, audio recordings, drawings, scores. The NBF is a member of the European electronic library project Europeana.

Seminars, conferences, screenings of films and videos, numerous exhibitions make the library a center of intense cultural life, open to the general public. The NBF actively cooperates with other organizations in France, Europe and the world. To jointly develop an idea of ​​the library of the future, a true virtual library without borders.

Bibliography


1. Bibliothèque nationale de France [ Electronic resource]. Access mode: http://www.bnf. fr/fr/outils/a. bienvenue_a_la_bnf_ru.html#SHDC__Attribute_BlocArticle0BnF . - Date of circulation 2.10.13.

Library encyclopedia / RSL. - M.: Pashkov house, 2007. - 1300 p.: ill. - ISBN 5-7510-0290-3.

Wikipedia [Electronic resource]. - Access mode: http://ru. wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallica . - Date of circulation 3.10.13.

Vodovozov V.V. National Library of Paris / V.V. Vodovozov // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron. - Owen - Patent on fights. - v.22a. - 1897. - p.793-795

Bibliology: encyclopedic Dictionary/ editorial board: N.M. Sikorsky (editor-in-chief) [i dr.]. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1982. - S.371-372.

Kuznetsova, R.T. Current national bibliographic accounting in France at the present stage / T.R. Kuznetsova // Library Science and Bibliography Abroad. - 1991. - Issue 126. - P.52-59.

Leritier, A. Department of Publications of the National Library in Paris (funds and catalogues) / A. Leritier // Library Science and Bibliography Abroad. - 1977. - Issue 65. - P.5-11.

National Libraries of the World. Handbook, M., 1972, pp. 247-51; Dennry E., Bibliothèque nationale de Paris, "Library Science and Bibliography Abroad" 1972, v.40, pp.3-14.

Nedashkovskaya, T.A. Organization of library services in the new complex of the National Library of France / Т.А. Nedashkovskaya // Libraries abroad: collection / VGIBL; ed. : E.A. Azarova, S.V. Pushkov. - M., 2001. - S.5-20.

Chizhova, N.B. The concept of "national library": Theoretical and methodological foundations in world and domestic practice / N.B. Chizhova // Cultural life South of Russia. - 2012. - No. 4 (47). - p.114-117


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The National Library of France has its origins in the King's Library incorporated into the Louvre by Charles V. Royal Library and then Imperial before becoming National. The mission of the BNF (French: Bibliothèque nationale de France) is to collect and store everything published in France in order to make information available to researchers and professionals. Heir and guardian of the national memory, she is responsible for passing it on to future generations. It also aims to expand access to a wider audience.

Legal deposit was introduced in 1537 by Francis I. By a decree of December 28, the King of France introduced a new and decisive principle for increasing collections: he ordered printers and booksellers to bring to bookstore Castle of Blois any printed book for sale in the kingdom.

The creation of this obligation, called legal deposit, represents a fundamental date for the heritage of France, even if at the beginning this measure was not very accurately used. This obligation was abolished during the Liberty Revolution, but reinstated in 1793 to protect literary property, and reorganized in 1810 to oversee printing. In 1925 the book printer/publisher double deposit was introduced which increased efficiency, legal deposit today is governed by a code of inheritance and an ordinance of December 31, 1993, amended in 2006.

National Library of France in Paris

The birth of a great architectural project

In 1988, it was decided to create a new building in Tolbiac, to increase the collections and expand the research. In July 1989 international jury, headed by the architect I.M. Pei, chose four projects, highlighting in particular the design of Dominique Perrault, chosen by the President of the Republic François Mitterrand on August 21, 1989. Since 1990, major projects have been launched to prepare for the transfer of collections: inventory (inventory) and general computerization of catalogs.

Introduction

I chose the history of French libraries as the topic of my essay. I was extremely interested to know how the process of librarianship took place in this country and how libraries exist now. I was interested and excited by the history of the Turgenev Library: the unique fate of Russian books in a foreign country. I cannot but say that France is something special for me, therefore it is really difficult for me to call this state a stranger. So many centuries cultural Russia and France existed almost inseparably, how many intricate interlacings in the cultures of these countries! Our libraries are also related.

Analyzing the intricate history of the Mazarin Library, you plunge into a completely new mysterious and fascinating world. I admire this man, even if his character is ambiguous, but the merits cannot be overestimated. Reading about the National Library of France, one is struck by the grandeur and diversity of its funds, the beauty of the architecture of the library building. Working with materials about the Turgenev Library, it literally seems as if the borders between our countries are being erased.

I made sure that the history of each library is insanely interesting. Like a person, she lives own life with its tragedies (the fascist destruction of the Turgenev library) and joys (the opening of the first public library in Paris).

It was hard to imagine that the history of libraries could be so fascinating. However, now I have no doubt about it.

National Library in Paris

The French National Library received its name, reflecting its special status (the status of the country's first library, a special institution of the state), in 1795 by decree of October 16th. But at the same time (in fact, until 1814) it continued to be called the King's Library.

Like the library british museum, it was focused both on ensuring the completeness of the funds of national book production, and on performing the function of the central scientific library of a universal profile, which, in turn, was determined by the Library's funds, unique in their volume and repertoire. However, over the course of a number of years that have passed since the abolition during the revolution of 1789-1794. of the old legal deposit law and until its restoration in 1810, the National Library did not receive legal deposit. Moreover, unlike the National Library of Great Britain, the French National Library was in crisis for nearly a century. This was reflected in the fact that a significant part of its collections was not dismantled and not catalogued, and this, in turn, reduced the scale and quality of reader service. She found herself in an extremely difficult position due to the fact that she became the owner of a huge and unique collection in its value.

Numerous book and unique integral collections came to the library after the gigantic nationalization of private book collections and the secularization of the property of monasteries and churches. (It took place during the years of the French Revolution at the end of the 18th century.) Both of these events took place in November 1789, when the decree of the Constituent Assembly was promulgated on the transfer of church property to the disposal of the nation.

At the same time, instructions were given on how to draw up inventories and transfer them to municipalities. In March 1792, a decree was issued on the confiscation of the property of the emigrated supporters of the king. In accordance with the decree of November 2, 1789, the so-called "literary departments" were organized, which were engaged in the redistribution book stocks by regions of the country. Even the idea of ​​creating a single unified catalog for all book collections was expressed. 18 decrees and numerous orders were aimed at ensuring that the confiscated books (1.5 million volumes in Paris and 6 million volumes in the provinces) were made available to readers as soon as possible.

All initial attempts to ensure the safety of the nationalized funds, not to mention their processing and making these funds available to readers, were unsuccessful. The 24 ordinances of the Convention on libraries, six of which were aimed at protecting book collections, did not give a positive result, despite the fact that on August 31, 1794, a decree was adopted according to which those responsible for the destruction of books were sentenced to two years in prison.

"Literary departments" became over time public libraries county, city, or central schools ( educational institutions, which were initially created by the new authorities in all departments). After the transformation of the central schools into lyceums in accordance with the decree of January 28, 1803, the funds of the libraries of the central schools were transferred to the jurisdiction of the municipalities.

The fate of many collections remained unenviable for two centuries. This situation was complicated by the fact that the libraries, which were under the jurisdiction of the new authorities, were obliged to organize the sale of books from their collections.

On November 10, 1791, a library section was created under the Committee of Public Education, headed by Abbé Henri Gregoire (1750-1831).

The tasks of the section included the reorganization of existing and the creation of new libraries.

Large municipal libraries sprang up in many French cities. In accordance with a specially adopted decree, a catalog was to be organized in each newly created library.

A significant part of the confiscated book stocks ended up in the National Library. To the library's 300,000 volumes accumulated during the Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars, another 157,000 volumes were added. There was serious problem cataloging, it was not possible to solve it until late XIX century. To accommodate the fund, a branch in the Arsenal Library was used.

In our time, the National Library of France has a complex structure. In addition to the Royal Library, it includes: the Arsenal Library, the Theater Arts Department, the House-Museum of the actor and director J. Vilar in Avignon; Library-museum of the Opera and many halls for conferences, exhibitions, film demonstrations, listening to sound recordings. The structure of the National Library also includes numerous workshops, united in five conservation and restoration centers.

The Jean Vilar House Museum was opened in 1979. It is a regional center for documentation and cultural and educational work, providing readers with materials about the art of the performance. The library includes approximately 25,000 works, 1,000 video titles, iconographic documents, costume designs.

The Department of Numismatics and Ancient Antiquities was originally compiled from the collection of the kings of France (beginning with Louis XIV). Currently, the Department contains 520,000 names of money and medals. In accordance with the law, the Department accepts the sample of all medals issued in France. In addition, the Department contains 65,000 titles of books on numismatics. Ancient vases, jewelry, clothes, etc. are presented as antique antiquities.

The Arsenal Library was attached to the National Library in 1934. It was first mentioned in 1754. In 1797 it was opened as a public library. It is based on the unique library of the famous writer, bibliophile and collector Marquis de Paulmy, which stores the collection of the Count d "Artois, the archives of the Bastille, as well as collections confiscated from private individuals, churches and emigrants during the revolution of 1789-1794. The Library includes 14,000 manuscripts, one million printed editions, 100,000 engravings.

The Department of Theater Arts is based on unique collection Auguste Rondel, consisting exclusively of documents relating to the arts of the spectacle different eras and countries. Established since 1925 in the Library of the Arsenal, this "theatrical library" does not stop subsequently enriching itself and in 1976 becomes the Department of Theater Arts of the National Library.

The reference and bibliographic department is represented by catalogs printed by major libraries (such as the National Library of France, the Library of Congress, the Public Library of New York), union catalogs, dictionaries, encyclopedias, and biographical catalogs. The main purpose of the Department is to help readers identify and localize documents, assist readers in their bibliographic research, and familiarize users with various departments of the library.

The department of engravings and photographs was formed in 1667. It contains 15 million iconographic documents, which include: drawings, engravings, photographs, posters, labels, Postcards, fabric samples, playing cards etc.

The Cartographic Department was founded in 1828. The Department's fund is represented by maps, plans of cities, buildings, geographical atlases, relief plans. The department also contains the collection of the Hydrographic Service of the Navy, including plans for the coastlines of cities, plans for battle scenes at sea, maps of sea currents, topographic maps of rivers, drawings of islands, etc., as well as a collection of geographer Jean Gottmann (1915-1994). In total, the Department includes 890 thousand cartographic documents. Thus, the Department is popular with readers interested in such sciences as: cartography, geography, history of discoveries, history of photography, history of cartography, maritime history, study of soils, forests.

The National Library of France is a complex, amazing complex.


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